I have always been a fan of Carrie Underwood. My husband and I remember seeing her for the first time on American Idol and saying that there was something different with her, something special. Then she sang and we knew from that moment that she would be the winner that year. You can’t mess with what God has put in motion. She was meant to be there. Meant to be there at that time. It was her time.
I’m sure you all know how amazing her career has been and the success that she has enjoyed. What you might not know is that she is a strong, Christian woman who is pregnant with her first child and is happily married to hockey player, Mike Fisher. On December 9th, she releases her greatest hits cd. It all shapes up to be what is probably going to be a year full of blessings for her.
But now, she has blessed not only me, but thousands, if not millions of people with one song.
I was driving alone in my car the other day (a rare occurrence) and I was flipping through the channels looking for something different to listen to. Our local Christian station is great, but they tend to replay song after song and sometimes I just need a change. All of a sudden, I stopped when I heard a voice. Honestly, I’m not that into country music, so I will usually skip over that station unless I hear a song I know. I stopped on that station because I heard Carrie’s voice, but it was more than that.
It was the conviction with which she was singing. I had never heard her sing like that. I didn’t know what the song was about at that point because I picked it up mid-song, but I could not change the channel. Then I heard the words. The tears started flowing because right then, right there, God was speaking to me through her words.
Couldn’t fight back the tears so I fell on my knees
Saying, “God, if you’re there come and rescue me.”
Felt love pouring down from above
Got washed in the water, washed in the blood and now I’m changed
And now I’m stronger
There must be something in the water
Wow. Once again, God used a song, the thing that makes my heart sing, to speak to me. God knew that right at that moment, I would finally be alone. No kids to distract me. Nothing but the music, the car, me and Him. I was meant to be there at that time. It was my time.
Sound familiar? That’s what happened at the beginning of Carrie’s career. God orchestrated the timing, just like he did this time with me. And He does that every minute of the day, all day and all year long. It’s in times like that when I am so powerfully reminded of how awesomely huge my God is. The fact that He reigns over His whole dominion, yet can find a stressed out, scattered woman alone in her car and remind her of how much He loves her is astounding to me.
And I was changed.
Again.
I was reminded of what gets lost when I allow life to get in front of what is most important. I thank God for the musical brilliance of a girl out of Muskogee, Oklahoma. I thank God for using her to reach me. But most importantly, I pray that people who don’t know what it feels to have “love pouring down from above” in a way that only Jesus can do, will be touched by her words and led into a relationship with Him. I pray that they will be able to feel and know these words in their hearts.
And now I’m singing along to amazing grace
Can’t nobody wipe this smile off my face
Got joy in my heart, angels on my side
Thank God almighty, I saw the light
Gonna look ahead, no turning back
Live everyday, give it all that I have
Trust in someone bigger than me
Ever since the day that I believed I am changed
And now I’m stronger
Thank you Carrie, and may God continue to pour out His blessings on your family as you await the birth of your first child!
Now, listen to the song for yourself and it is my prayer that you will be changed by it. If after you listen, you need to have someone to pray for you or with you, please contact me on my Facebook page.
